What this approvals agent handles
Approval requests stall when routing is unclear or the requester does not know who should approve. A Slack approvals agent handles the routing decision while keeping an operator in control of the final routing action.
This setup is especially useful in three approval situations:
- Budget and spend approvals. The agent reads the request amount, category, and department, then proposes the correct approver based on your approval matrix.
- Resource and access requests. For tool access, headcount, or vendor onboarding requests, the agent checks the request type and proposes routing to the right team lead or executive.
- Sequential approval chains. For requests requiring multiple sign-offs, the agent proposes the sequence and tracks each approval before moving to the next step.
How the agent works
The table below shows the trigger, inputs, outputs, and approval logic so you can judge operational fit quickly.
| Agent stage | What happens | Output | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trigger | An approval request is posted in a Slack channel or submitted via a form | Routing job starts | No approval for read phase |
| Inputs | Request type, amount, department, requester, approval matrix rules | Ranked approver recommendation | No approval for data gathering |
| Proposed action | Route to approver, DM with context, or flag for manual routing review | Prepared approval request | Approval before any write |
| Operator review | Reviewer checks why the approver was chosen and what context will be sent | Approve, reject, or edit | Explicit approval required |
How to set up this agent
Define your approval matrix in plain language, including approval thresholds, department ownership, and exception cases.
Connect Slack with access to the channels where requests arrive and the ability to DM approvers.
Choose which request types can surface for quick review and which should always require closer routing review.
Set notifications so the operator sees proposed routing decisions quickly when requests arrive.
Permissions and approval checks
- Read access should cover approval request channels, requester profiles, and relevant context from connected tools.
- Write scope should be limited to sending DMs to approvers and updating the request status in the source channel.
- High-value or sensitive requests should be flagged for manual routing review before the approver is contacted.
- Approval views should show both the request details and the proposed approver with reasoning before commit.
Frequently asked questions
Does approval routing happen automatically or does it require review?
By default, routing proposals are surfaced for review before the request is sent to the approver.
How does the agent decide who should approve a request?
The agent applies your routing logic: request type, dollar amount, department, or custom criteria. You describe the logic in plain English, and the agent reasons over the request data to propose the correct approver.
What happens if the approval routing rules change?
Update the agent description, review the new execution plan, and activate. The agent adapts to the new logic without requiring builder edits or custom routing scripts.
Can the agent route to multiple approvers or require sequential approvals?
Yes. The agent can propose routing to multiple approvers in parallel or configure a sequence where one approval triggers the next. Sequential logic works the same as single-approver routing: the proposal is reviewed before execution.